Chinese FM calls for greater efforts to build new model of China-U.S. relations

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Chinese FM calls for greater efforts to build new model of China-U.S. relations

(Xinhua) 13:44, September 21, 2013

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday called for "sustained political resolve, persistent commitment and tireless efforts" by both China and the United States to turn the proposed new model of major-country relations into reality.

In a speech to the Washington-based think tank Brookings Institution, Wang hailed the consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama at their June summit at the Annenberg Estate in California on building a new model of major-country relations as "strategic, constructive and path-breaking."

"It has charted the future course for our relations. It will surely produce a positive and profound impact on the Asia-Pacific and, indeed, the evolution of the international landscape," the Chinese minister said.

Wang elaborated on the essential features of the new model of major-country relations, which include "no conflict or confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation."

He interpreted "no conflict or confrontation" as the prerequisite, "mutual respect" as the basic principle, and "win-win cooperation" as the only way for turning the vision of building a new model of major-country relations into reality.

Wang said that making the vision a reality will be "a systemic project" that requires ideas and efforts of people from all walks of life in both countries. "It also needs the sustained political resolve, persistent commitment and tireless efforts of both sides," he said.

The top Chinese diplomat proposed five ways for building the new model of major-country relations, including enhancing strategic trust, promoting practical cooperation, increasing people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthening cooperation on international and regional hotspots and global issues, and prioritizing cooperation on Asia-Pacific affairs.

He highlighted the importance of the China-U.S. cooperation in maintaining regional and international stability and promoting sustainable development of mankind.

Wang added that China is willing to work with the United States to ensure cyber security, fight climate change, defuse the Syria crisis, push forward the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and solve the Iranian nuclear issue.

He suggested China and the United States turn the Asia-Pacific into a "testing ground" for building the new model of relations, as they have more converging interests and frequent interactions in the region than anywhere else.

For that end, the minister said the two nations should "genuinely respect and accommodate each other's interests and concerns in the Asia-Pacific," and work together to produce substantive results in the cooperation over hotspot regional issues, such as the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the transition in Afghanistan.

While reiterating that China has no intention to push the United States out of the Asia-Pacific, Wang urged Washington to respect China's efforts to oppose separation of the island of Taiwan and to seek peaceful reunification.

Wang is on a two-day official visit to the United States, the first since he took office in March. He has held talks with top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry, Vice President Joe Biden, National Security Advisor Susan Rice and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

He is to travel to New York on Saturday to attend the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly.